Motoring advice: 'I'm looking for an economical 4x4'

Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car. Aidan visits dealers all over the country to produce a monthly guidebook on the values of used cars. He is co-editor of Motor Trade Publishers, who supply a car-valuing service to the motor trade, insurance companies and finance houses. Eddie is author of former best-seller 'Clever Car Buying'

Aidan Timmons and Motoring Editor Eddie Cunningham team up to help readers make the right choice with their next car. Aidan visits dealers all over the country to produce a monthly guidebook on the values of used cars. He is co-editor of Motor Trade Publishers, who supply a car-valuing service to the motor trade, insurance companies and finance houses. Eddie is author of former best-seller 'Clever Car Buying'

I'm driving a Toyota Hilux 2015. I moved from a Land Cruiser LWB because I needed seats to carry the children. I need space in the back for tools, so I miss the extra room of the LWB. For my next purchase I was wondering would there be anything out there that is more economical in a 4x4 (with seats) for roughly the same money? I am currently doing approx 25,000km a year and can wait a year if there are any hybrids due out.

Aidan: I'm not aware of a hybrid version of the Hilux, but the fact you have thought about it means Toyota probably has too. A new Hilux was released in 2016. It has a more advanced 2.4-litre diesel engine. I presume you have the 3-litre diesel SR5 model. The new version is more refined and has a lot of equipment upgrades, so you would do well to test one of those first. As for alternatives, I am not entirely sure you can move up in size without spending a lot more money. You could look at a five-seat Land Cruiser Business model, but you will spend as much on a two or even three-year-old one of those as you would on a new Hilux.

Eddie: They've added space to seats and payload area in the new Hilux. I would have thought one of the special covers they make for pick-ups would yield a lot of flat-bed space for you. Talk to your dealer about that because I see it as by far your best bet. No hybrid on the horizon, I'm afraid.

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